Peru in January, February and March: a Guide for Canadians

Two climates at the same time

Peru does not have one season from January to March, it has two. According to PromPerú, the national tourism board, the coast has its summer in these months, with little fog and temperatures between 25 and 35 °C. At the same time the Andes receive abundant rain from November to March, and the dry season there only starts in April.

Lima gives a good idea of the contrast. Its summer, from December to April, brings daily highs of 25 to 30 °C, and the city receives only about 6 mm of rain in a whole year. Cusco, by contrast, receives about 728 mm a year, and its wet season runs from October to March. The same week can therefore mean beach weather in Paracas and a rain jacket at Machu Picchu.

For a traveller leaving a Montreal or Winnipeg winter, this is good news if the trip is built around it. The mistake is to plan a January trip as if it were July, with most of the days in the mountains.

The coast at its best: Lima, Paracas, Nazca and Huacachina

The southern coast is where a winter trip earns its value. Lima is sunny and warm, with evenings that suit the historic centre and the Magic Water Circuit. Further south, Paracas offers the boat trip to the Ballestas Islands and the desert of the Paracas Reserve, with its beaches and cliffs. Inland from there, Huacachina and its dunes, then Nazca and its lines, complete a route that stays in the dry desert the whole time.

These are the tours that fit naturally into a January to March itinerary, with their prices in US dollars per person and an approximate conversion at about 1.41 CAD per USD:

• Tour to the Ballestas Islands, 2 hours: USD 29, about 41 CAD
• Oasis Moron Tour from Paracas, 4 hours: USD 95, about 134 CAD
• Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour, 1 h 30: USD 55, about 78 CAD
• Nazca Lines Flight from Nazca, 35 minutes: USD 100, about 141 CAD, plus S/ 77 in airfield fees paid on site
• Tour to the Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines from Lima, 1 day: USD 395, about 559 CAD

Machu Picchu in the rainy season: how to plan it

Machu Picchu is open all year and is reached by train from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, so the rainy season does not close it. What changes is the weather on the day: clouds can sit on the peaks, paths are wet, and a clear view is less certain than in the dry months. The landscape, in return, is at its greenest.

Three decisions make the difference. First, do not put Machu Picchu on the last day before your flight home; keep a free day in Cusco after it, so that a disrupted day can be rearranged. Second, spend your first day in the highlands resting, as explained in our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco. Third, pack a real waterproof layer and shoes with grip for wet stone steps.

Our Machu Picchu Full Day Tour from Cusco costs USD 395 per person, about 559 CAD, and includes the Vistadome train both ways, the bus from Aguas Calientes to the citadel and back, the entrance ticket and an English-speaking guide. Since May 1, 2026, the entrance for a foreign adult costs S/ 163, which the tour already covers. The guide to Machu Picchu in one day from Cusco details the timing of that day.

The Inca Trail closes in February

The classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is normally closed in February for maintenance. In 2026 it was closed from February 1 to 28 and reopened on March 1, so check the dates for the year of your trip. Machu Picchu itself stays open during that month, so the closure only affects those who wanted to arrive on foot.

If walking the Inca Trail is the reason for your trip, a winter escape is not the right moment: March reopens it, but still in the rainy season. The dry months of May to September are the better choice for that trek. If the trail is not essential, the train to Aguas Calientes gives the same visit to the citadel with no difference in what you see once inside.

A recommended winter itinerary

The 8 day Peru Adventure package fits a January to March trip well, because it spends its first days on the dry coast and climbs to Cusco only for the second half. It starts from USD 1,790, about 2,532 CAD. If you book it as a private trip, the balance can shift further toward the coast in the heart of the rainy season, with an extra night in Paracas or Huacachina or a Lima evening tour. It is also wise to add a free day in Cusco after Machu Picchu, because the published route flies out of Cusco the morning after the visit.

The package reaches Cusco by night bus from Nazca. If that does not appeal to you, returning to Lima and flying to Cusco is the usual alternative, compared in our guide on how to get from Nazca to Cusco. We recommend leaving the Amazon for the drier months, as the jungle is also in its rainy season from November to March. The published route, day by day:

• Day 1: arrival in Lima and private transfer to Miraflores
• Day 2: Paracas and the Ballestas Islands, a pisco tasting in Ica and dune buggies in Huacachina, then on to Nazca
• Day 3: flight over the Nazca Lines, then night bus to Cusco
• Day 4: arrival in Cusco and a free day to acclimatise
• Day 5: Cusco city tour, with Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, the Koricancha and the Cathedral
• Day 6: Sacred Valley, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, then train to Aguas Calientes
• Day 7: guided visit of Machu Picchu and train back to Cusco
• Day 8: flight from Cusco to Lima and end of services

Why January to March is practical from Canada

The winter months are also the easiest to reach Peru from Eastern Canada. Air Canada's seasonal nonstops to Lima from Toronto and Montreal fly during the northern winter (in 2025 to 2026 they ran from early December to late March, and the 2026 to 2027 season starts on October 24 and 25), in addition to Air Transat's nonstops, announced as a year-round route. From early November to mid March, Toronto and Montreal are on the same time as Lima. Our guide to travelling to Peru from Canada covers flights, entry rules and money in detail.

Nonstop flights are limited to a few departures a week, so confirm your flight dates first and then request your private itinerary around them.

What to pack for a two-climate trip

A winter trip to Peru needs a summer bag and a mountain bag in the same suitcase. On the coast, the sun is strong and the desert reflects light; in the Andes, rain showers and cold evenings are the norm in these months.

• Light, breathable clothing and sandals for Lima, Paracas and Huacachina
• High protection sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
• A waterproof jacket with a hood, and a compact umbrella or poncho for Machu Picchu
• A fleece or light down jacket for Cusco evenings
• Waterproof walking shoes, or shoes that dry quickly
• A dry bag or zip bags to protect your phone and documents

The dry alternative: June to August

If the Andes are the heart of your trip, June to August is the other option. It sits in the dry season of the Andes, which PromPerú describes as the ideal time to visit, with sunny days and cold nights. July is Cusco's coldest month, with nights that can approach 0 °C. This is the season for the Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Rainbow Mountain.

The trade-off is on the coast. From June to September, Lima lives under the garúa, a persistent morning drizzle, with highs of 16 to 19 °C, and the coast in general has dense fog and temperatures between 12 and 18 °C. The Amazon is in its drier season but can have cold spells from May to August. For a mountain-focused summer trip, the 12 day Peru Express package, from USD 2,350 or about 3,324 CAD, adds Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca to the classic route.

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